Man Charged in Phony Vehicle Accident Reporting Scheme

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against a York County man accused of buying scrapped vehicles at a bargain, insuring them, and reporting accidents that never happened to receive lucrative insurance payouts.

Taofiq Salami, of York Haven, has been charged with insurance fraud, identity theft, forgery, and title washing, among other related charges, according to prosecutors.

According to an attorney general investigation, Salami used false and stolen identities — and co-conspirators — to purchase and insure the scrapped vehicles. He then reported accidents that didn’t happen to obtain more than $180,000 in insurance payouts, Sunday’s offi e said..

Prosecutors said Salami attempted the scheme on numerous other occasions, with claims totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars more. He ultimately did not receive those payouts. court documents noted..

Sunday said Salami was arrested and arraigned on the insurance fraud and related charges when he reported to court in Bucks County for an unrelated theft/forgery case. Salami’s bail was set at $400,000 with a hearing to ensure the bail is not paid from his alleged criminal proceeds.

Salami retained the vehicles after receiving the insurance payouts and repeated the scheme multiple times with the same vehicle, prosecutors allege..

In one alleged incident, Salami purchased a 2013 Jeep Cherokee using a false identity and later fabricated an accident involving a 2019 Toyota Highlander, resulting in an insurance payout of approximately $49,000.

The criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and Salami is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation continues, and Sunday said other people are expected to be charged.

The cases will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section.

Topics Auto